Liberal Adam Vaughan, a star recruit and popular former city councillor, managed to outlast social activist Joe Cressy, opening up a 13-point lead over his NDP rival with 65 per cent of polls reporting.

In Alberta’s oilsands heartland, meanwhile, Tory front-runner David Yurdiga was declared winner over Liberal Kyle Harrietha in Fort McMurray-Athabasca, with Yurdiga taking nearly 48 per cent of the votes to Harrietha’s 34 per cent.